Shepard Smith Sort Of Apologizes For Suggesting Robin Williams Was 'A Coward'

In his breaking news coverage of Robin Williams’ suicide on Monday, Fox News anchor Shepard Smith wondered if cowardice impelled Williams to kill himself. Yesterday, Smith apologized “to the end of the Earth to anyone who might think that I meant to openly call him a coward.” So was Smith saying he should have just privately said it?

This is what Shepard Smith said about Robin Williams during coverage of his death:

It’s hard to imagine isn’t it? You could love three little things (Williams’ children) so much, watch them grow and they’re in their mid-20s, and they’re inspiring you and exciting you, and they fill you up with the kind of joy you could never have known. And yet, something inside you is so horrible, or you’re such a coward, or whatever the reason that you decide you have to end it.

Not surprisingly, that did not go over well. So yesterday, Fox’s internet BFFs aka Mediaite helped with his image rehab did a telephone interview with Smith. He said:

I was just wondering aloud what could have made this man want to end it all. And it reminds us that we all have responsibility as friends and neighbors to help take responsibility to prevent this from happening. There are people who process suicide as a black-and white-issue. I don’t process anything as black-and-white.

…Look at what this family is going through. I would never presume to know anything about his private life. And if any of his family members and friends were to have seen me use the word “coward,” I would be horrified. I would just to apologize to the end of the earth to anyone who might think that I meant to openly call him a coward.

To the core of my being, I regret it. It just came out of my mouth. And I’m so sorry. And to anyone and their families who see that, I am sorry. (emphases mine)

Smith did not take back his conjecture that cowardice led Williams to kill himself. He said he regretted saying it openly and possibly offending a family member.

But if the Mediaite interviewer noticed, she let it go. She unquestioningly posted that Williams “apologized for using the word ‘coward’ and tried to clarify what he meant.”

Watch Smith's original comments below.

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Showing 6 reactions

commented 2014-08-16 02:06:51 -0400 · Flag

Thank you, doors17 for the kind words. You not only made me smile, and also chuckle. I do have a great support system. My 20-something daughter shares my depression and anxiety, and my husband of 38 years who struggles with understanding, but tries his best. I have the best doctor for treating mental illnesses, who has a severely bi-polar son, and has actively pursued learning all he can about chemical imbalances. He is very open to treating you the way you are comfortable — with pharmaceuticals, or with Ayurvedic herbs and TM. Also, if I need her, I have a fabulous therapist. And I have many friends who share the daily struggles.

Robin Williams was only 3½ months older than I, so we kind of grew up together, although I never became addicted to anything, I related to his need to self-medicate to try anything to escape the horrors going on inside his head.
The impertinant comments of the likes of Shep, and (OMG) Rushblow piss me off tremendously. They have no idea what it’s like to live with “The black dog,” as Winston Churchill refered to his depression, and the struggle to put on a public face to hide behind. Many comedians are depression/anxiety sufferers who chose comedy to alleviate the pain. I did for most of my life and when I admit now, as an adult, that it was a facade, most people are shocked.

commented 2014-08-15 09:58:12 -0400 · Flag

Thank you Janet Tuhey for sharing with us your own personal experiences dealing with depression, because we know it’s nothing to be ashamed of since it’s beyond control and a daily struggle for those that do. I’ll bet everyone knows or have known a family member or friend that has.

34 years ago a friend of mine hung himself and before he did he mailed a letter to our local Los Angeles Police Department station and Fire Department explaining to them what he did, where he hid to key for them to enter and for them to retrieve his body because he didn’t want his family or friends to find him first. He never did leave a note on why he decided to end his life. For years it was a mystery to all of us but we came to the conclusion that he was suffering from depression that he hid because back in 1980 it was something thought of as a weakness not a medical condition.

I’ll show my age here but Robin Williams’ death reminds me of another comedian who committed suicide in 1977, Freddie Prinze who also fought with depression and addiction.

All of us can relate to feeling depressed at some point in our lives, but sometimes it can be misdiagnosed as temporary frustration or disappointment. The difference is while some can overcome the feeling of despair, many can’t.

I hope you have a great family and friends Janet who are there for you with understanding and support. If not you always have us…I hope that made you smile.

commented 2014-08-15 08:13:00 -0400 · Flag

@ doors 17, 100% agree. I have been there, have thought about committing suicide more than once. Shep, depression ain’t for cowards, you insensitive dick! It takes a very strong will to decide to end your life when everything looks so bleak and hopeless; when you see the endless future of more of the same darkness; when you think about the pain you have put your family through; and when you think about their pain at finding your dead body, their grief of wondering what they could have done to help — nothing.
Depression is a disease for which there is no cure, only methods and medications to slightly alleviate, but never completely eradicate the sadness and helplessness you feel.
Yes, I am sending this to Shep’s webpage, and anywhere else I see anyone repeating his disgusting words. He is not sorry one iota.

commented 2014-08-14 13:37:17 -0400 · Flag

@doors17. Agree. Depression is not a personal choice. Neither is being LGBT, as Shep should know.

commented 2014-08-14 06:12:58 -0400 · Flag

Those that suffer from depression equally feel pain like those who face death from an incurable disease. With Robin Williams’ death the media will temporally focus on depression but it’ll soon fade away once the ratings do. They deserve our help and support to bring them up whenever they feel down and let them know that they are loved and will get our understanding and not scorn. It is a chemical imbalance, not a choice.

NewsHounds posted about Shepard Smith Sort Of Apologizes For Suggesting Robin Williams Was 'A Coward' on NewsHounds' Facebook page 2014-08-14 01:08:47 -0400

Sorry he said it or sorry he said it on the air?